Compression-type fitting



April z', 1940.

T. W. BRIEGEL COMPRESSION-TYPE FITTING Filed Aug. 4, 1939 ze 2a ZIZKEHDI" THEoD/PE W BA1/EGEL Patented Apr. 2, 1940 e UNT ` 2,195,559' COMPRESSIO-N-TYPE FITTING Theodore W. griega, salva., nl. Application August 4, 1939, Serial No. 288,309

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a compression-type iitting and to a method of assembling the same on conduits and the like. More particularly the invention relates to a connector for electrical conduits'and to a means and method for wedgingly assembling the connector and conduits together.

It has heretofore been customary in compression-type fittings to provide a nut having a threaded tapered portion for effecting a wedging engagement between a fitting or connector and an end of a conduit, tubing ortho like. Such a nut is relativelyunsightly in that it is necessarily of larger diameter than the fitting and makes the same look bulky when assembled' in a line of conduits.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a compression-type fitting that eliminates the necessity .of using a threaded nut and that may be manufactured at lowercost than the nut type of fitting.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a compression-type fitting of sirnple construction, easy to assemble in place on a conduit and imparting a pleasing, streamlined appearance thereto.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a simple method of assembling a compression-type fitting and conduit, tubing or the like, whereby the same may beheld rmly and permanently together without the use of threaded connection.

' Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying draw'-l ing.'

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawing:

' Figure' l is a plan View of a compression type of fitting and conduit assembly embodying the modified form of fitting assembled on a conduit end.

further modification of my fitting, assembled on a conduit end. l

Figure 6 is an elevational view illustrating an Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional View of a additionalform of 'a` split wedge-shaped Sleeve embodying the principles of my invention.

Figure '7 is an elevational view illustrating still another form of a split wedge-shaped sleeve emboclying the principles of my invention. .'g;

As shown on thedrawing: l The reference numeral Il) indicates generally .a tting (Figs. l, 2 and 3) embodying the principles of my invention. Said fitting comprises a .sleeve of some suitable material, such as steel, 10

having its midportion constricted annularly as at il to provide a stop for the ends of conduit, tubing or the like; on which the fitting is to be assembled. The fitting IEI is flared outwardly from the annularconstricted portion il to proll vide'hollow conicalportions i2 and I3, the wallsof which are relatively thin ora purpose later to be disclosed. The vtaper of the conical end portions l2 and I3 may be made comparatively slight so as not to materially increase the diameter oi the fitting beyond that of theconduit or tubing.

As illustrated, the ends of conduits, tubing or the like,..indicated generally by the reference numerals id and i5, are adapted to befinserted into the outwardly flared portions I2 and I3, respectively, until the ends of said conduits abut the annular stop ii. Prior to such insertion of the ends of the conduits Id and l5, a split wedgeshapedsleeve id of which only one is shown, is placed in each -end of the conical portions i2 and i3 (Fig. Owing tothe fact that said sleeve H is normally of greater outside diameter than the inside diameter of either of the ilared portions I2 or IB, and must therefore be con- 35 tracted when inserted thereinto, the split sleeve, after its insertion, is held in place by rictional engagement between the contacting surfaces of -the sleeve and tting. Each of said sleevesA I6 is slit longitudinally, as at Il, to provide for the y40 requisite amount oi expansion and contraction and is formed with an outer surface I8I that is. tapered to conform with the taper of the ared portions I2 and I3. It is also preferable to provide eachof the split sleeves I6 with ra co- 45 operating tongue lil and groove 2t adapted to interlitA closely along their annularly extending edges 2I and 22, respectively.

Other forms of split, wedge-shaped sleeves are illustrated in Figs'. 6 and 7, in the former'of which 50 isshown a sleeve fill vhaving a series of stepped interfitting cuts di and 52, and the 'latter of i which shows a sleeve 43 having a single stepped edges, such as the edges 2| and 22 are in close fitting relationship, suffice to make the assembly water and moisture tight when the split wedgeshaped sleeve is driven home in the manner about to be described.

In assembling the tting and conduit Shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the ends of the conduits I4 and I5 are inserted into the respective ends I2 and I3 of the fitting I0 until such ends abut the annular stop II. The split, wedge-shaped sleeves I6, which had previously been positioned loosely within the flared end portions I2 and I3, are then forced inwardly toward the annular stop Il, so vas to lie wholly within said flared end portions and in tight, wedging engagement with the contacting surfaces thereof and of the conduit end walls.

Portions of the material of said flared ends I2 y and |3 are next struck inwardly, as at 23, to engage against the material of the sleeve I6. Preferably, the sleeves I6 are shorter than the length of the flared portions I2 and I3 so as to leave a take-up space 24 at the inner end of each sleeve and lso as to permit the indented portions 23 to bear inwardly against the end edges 25 of said sleeves I6.

' By this arrangement, when the indentations 23 are struck inwardly, the displacement of the material soindented bears against the end edges 25 of the sleeves I6 and forces them into even tighter wedging engagement, while at the same time permanently assembling the fitting upon the conduit ends. The frictional engagement between the contacting surfaces of the wedgeshaped sleeves I6 and of the conduit ends and fittings is such that a veryV considerable pull would be necessary to separate the conduit ends, far in excess of any normal pull to which said conduits might be subjected during installation. As stated previously, the walls of the flared portions |2 and I3 are made sufficiently thin so that indented portions 23 can be readily formed by a tool right on the job.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a modification of my fitting, embodying the same principle but serving a different purpose. The modified fitting 26 has but one iiared conduit receiving portion 21, the other end being flanged and threaded, as at 28. The end of a conduit 29 is inserted into the flared portion 21 of the fitting 26 until its end alouts against the shoulder 3Q formed at the constricted inner end of said flange portion 21. A split, wedge-shaped sleeve 3| is positioned Wholly within said flared portion 21 and held therein by means of integral portions 32 struck inwardly from adjacent the outer end edge of the flared portion 21. As described previously, the inwardly struck portions 32 serve more firmly to effect wedging engagement between said sleeve 3|, the conduit end 29 and the fitting 26. f

In Fig. there is shown a further modified form of fitting 33, serving still a different purpose and having a plane-faced flanged end 34 and a iiared portion 35. An end of a conduit 36 is inserted into said flared portion 35 until its end edge abuts the inner shoulder 31. A Wedge 38 is then forced into place and edge portions of the iiared portion 35 are struck inwardly, as at 39, to effect the aforesaid wedging engagement.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the speciiic form of the fitting herein illustrated and described without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do not propose to limit my invention otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art and by the claim appended hereto.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a Wide range Without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A compression-type tting and smooth walled conduit assembly, comprising a thin metal fitting having an outwardly flared conical Wall and provided with ya stop at the inner constricted part of said wall, a thin walled metal conduit end inserted within said conical wall against said stop, and a split sleeve positioned wholly within said conical wall with clearance between the inner end of Isaid sleeve and said stop, said sleeve when so positioned having a conical outer surface in conforming contact with said conical wall and having a cylindrical inner surface in conforming contact with the thin walled conduit end, the material of said conical wall being in- 2 wardly deformed against the outer end of said sleeve and tending to force the same further inwardly toward said stop into tight frictional engagement between said conical wall and said conduit end, said engagement providing the sole means for holding the assembled parts permanently against displacement.

THEODORE W. BRIEGEL., 

